Donald Trump began his first day after securing victory in the US presidential election by receiving congratulatory calls from world leaders, including President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These calls marked the beginning of his transition to the presidency, as he focused on key communications with international and domestic leaders, as well as major supporters.
Trump maintained a low profile following his early-morning victory speech in Florida. His attention was primarily directed toward conversations with world leaders, important figures in his campaign, and major donors. Among the global leaders who reached out to congratulate him were Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with whom Trump discussed enhancing US-Saudi relations.
In the United States, Biden’s team urged Trump’s camp to sign the necessary documents to initiate the formal presidential transition process, as outlined by federal law. Delays in these agreements could hinder security clearance procedures for Trump’s incoming administration and limit access to sensitive government information.
Biden emphasized unity, pledging to ensure a smooth transition and expressing admiration for Kamala Harris’ role during the election. During his call with Harris, Trump acknowledged her professionalism, and both leaders agreed on the importance of national unity moving forward.
The international community also echoed sentiments of cooperation. Trump spoke with Modi, who congratulated him on his “spectacular” victory and expressed eagerness to continue strengthening US-India relations in areas such as technology, defense, energy, and space. Modi also commended the Republican Party’s performance in the US Congressional elections.
On social media, Modi shared, “Had a great conversation with my friend, President Donald Trump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations.”
Despite the flurry of diplomatic calls, Trump’s next steps on the global stage remain a subject of interest. He has pledged to seek peace in the Middle East amid ongoing tensions involving Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, though details on his strategy remain unclear.
US stock markets reacted positively to Trump’s victory, with both equities and cryptocurrencies seeing gains.
Meanwhile, Special Counsel Jack Smith, who previously charged Trump with federal offenses, is reportedly reviewing policies around the prosecution of sitting presidents. The Justice Department may halt any further action against Trump once he assumes office, as longstanding department legal opinions shield sitting presidents from prosecution.
Trump faces ongoing legal challenges, including charges related to the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. However, the election result could shield him from further criminal proceedings, as some experts believe the department will not move forward with these cases once he is inaugurated.
